Anthony James Dougherty

Anthony “Tony” James Dougherty, 84, of West Hartford, husband of Elizabeth A. Dougherty, passed away peacefully at home Monday, February 6, 2017. The son of William and Julia Dougherty, Tony was born in Scranton, PA on July 3, 1932. He was a graduate of Dickson City (PA) High School, received a B.S. degree from the University of Scranton, and he received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University College Galway in Ireland. Tony and Elizabeth met in the anatomy room at the University College while studying medicine, they married in June 1957, and after he completed medical school and a brief stay in England where Tony did a post residency locum tenems at Manchester (England) Royal Infirmary, they sailed from Southampton, England to New York City in January 1960. Certified as a Diplomate with the American Board of Anesthesiology and a Fellow of the American College of Anesthesiologists, Tony was Director of Anesthesia for Bloomsburg Hospital in Bloomsburg, PA. He joined the anesthesia staff at St. Francis Hospital and remained there for his professional career, he also practiced obstetrical anesthesia at St. Agnes Home, he was a founding member of the Woodland Anesthesia Associates. He was Assistant Clinical Professor of Anesthesia at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and a Board Member for the St. Francis School of Nursing. He concluded his medical career in 1993 when his anesthesia practice was focused on heart surgery. Tony was a member of the International Anesthesia Research Society, American Society of Anesthesiologists, Past President of the Connecticut State Society of Anesthesia, American Medical Association, Hartford County Medical Society, Pennsylvania Medical Society, and Tony was a member of the Horace Wells Society, where he was a recipient of the Horace Wells Award. He was also active with the West Hartford Indian Guides. Tony and Elizabeth and their young family settled in West Hartford in 1961 where they raised their six children. Summer vacation trips with the family to Atlantic City, Ocean City, Lake Pocotopaug, and Fisher’s Island were always Tony’s favorite – well once he got the packed station wagon there! Tony and Elizabeth had a large circle of friends and kept close ties to their friends and relatives in Ireland and England. “You gotta play ball,” was an expression Tony’s children heard many times, particularly through the high school years. From a coal mining town in Dickson City, PA to practicing medicine at St. Francis Hospital, he often mused; “Somebody said that it couldn’t be done, but, he with a chuckle replied That ‘maybe it couldn’t’ but he would be one, who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried. So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin, on his face, if he worried he hid it He started to sing as he tackled the thing, that couldn’t be done, and he did it.” (Edgar Guest) In addition to being a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend, Tony enjoyed the ball games, the horses, and a good humored story or joke. Left to celebrate his life is his loving wife Elizabeth, his six children, eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild (and one on the way): William Dougherty of Middletown, CT. Kathleen Morris of West Hartford, CT and her husband Michael and their two children Ashley and Michael Anthony; Patrick Dougherty of Saunderstown, RI and his three children Patrick, Liam and Nicole Marie; Anthony Dougherty of Lexington, KY; Elizabeth Davis of Needham, MA and her husband Timothy and their three children, Patrick Timothy, Caitlin, Elizabeth James and her husband Brandon and daughter Lily; Christine O’Connor of Avon, CT and her husband Michael and their three children Brandon, Michael and KC. Tony also leaves his beloved sister Lenore Russin of Scranton, PA, he was predeceased by his brothers, Charles and William and sister, Frances. Tony’s family wishes to provide our appreciation to all the friends, and Rev. Robert Kwiatkowski (Fr. Bob) who provided kindness, good thoughts and prayers, and special thanks to Audie who helped make his final days and moment comforting and peaceful. Calling hours will be Friday, February 10 from 4:00 – 7:00pm at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT. The funeral will be held Saturday, February 11 at 10:00am St. Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant Street, West Hartford, CT (service leaving from Molloy Funeral Home at 9:00am), followed by burial ceremony at Fairview Cemetery, 200 Whitman Avenue, West Hartford. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com